Melrose Americans to bring ICL Baseball back to Morelli Field

Thursday

Apr 25, 2013 at 12:01 AMApr 25, 2013 at 1:09 PM

Baseball is coming back to the City of Melrose.

Mayor Rob Dolan announced on Thursday that the Medford Americans are making the move to Melrose this summer. The newly renamed Melrose Americans of the Intercity League, are looking forward to entertaining the baseball-hungry masses, many of which have been looking for a team to root for since the departure of the Melrose/Gatley Rams roughly a decade ago.

Christopher Hurley/churley@wickedlocal.com

Baseball is coming back to the City of Melrose.

Mayor Rob Dolan announced on Thursday that the Medford Americans are making the move to Melrose this summer. The newly renamed Melrose Americans of the Intercity League, are looking forward to entertaining the baseball-hungry masses, many of which have been looking for a team to root for since the departure of the Melrose/Gatley Rams roughly a decade ago.

According to Dolan, it’s an idea that’s been 10 years in the making.

“We are excited to have the Intercity League return to Melrose,” Dolan said. “I can remember in the 1980s going to Morelli Field and watching the Rams play. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house. We want to return that tradition to Melrose and provide a free night out of quality baseball and a fun family atmosphere for families and kids.”

Melrose Americans Owner/Manager Kevin Burgoyne, along with coach Orazio Azzarello, can’t wait to get started this season, with the season opener tentatively slated to begin around Memorial Day.

“I want to thank the City of Melrose for allowing us to use Morelli Field and give us a new home,” said Burgoyne, a 35-year veteran of the ICL circuit. “I played against the great Melrose teams in the 1980s and 1990s and know the level of baseball that Melrose fans grew accustomed to watching. [We’re] returning another quality team comprised of players and coaches eager to represent the city and to return the generosity of our Melrose hosts, not only with entertaining baseball on game night, but at various other times as well.”

American’s Coach Orazio Azzarello echoed those sentiments.

“It’s great to be somewhere where you are wanted and where people want to watch it,” Azzarello said. “Its high-level competition in the InterCity League and I think the fans here in Melrose are not going to be disappointed.”

Both the Melrose and Medford organizations have seen its share of ICL action over the years.

Entering the league in 1985, the Melrose Rams made an immediate impact reaching ICL finals in its first year of operation, before bowing out to the then-Medford Mustangs. They proceeded to rattle off four consecutive Intercity League championships from 1986-89, landing a total of six titles over an eight-year span.

“They were a great team,” said Burgoyne. “Then Dr. Morelli moved down to Florida, and they pretty much fell apart after that.”

Although the turn of the century presented its challenges, the newly renamed Gately Rams continued to play an exciting brand of hardball. A perennial ICL finalist from 2000-03, the franchise captured two more championships in 2001 and 2003, before ultimately folding.

Meanwhile over in Medford, Burgoyne was forging his own legacy after taking over the Medford Mustangs from Eddie DiGiacomo in 1994. The longtime coach changed the team’s name to the Americans, continuing a rich 50-year history.

Azzarello joined the franchise in 1995, following his final high school game as captain of the Medford Mustangs. The left-handed pitcher/centerfielder continues to serve an active playing role, as well as working as the team’s pitching coach.

“It’s great,” Azzarello said “We want to bring back the history that was here 10 year ago, when the Melrose Rams and the Gately Rams were here. We want to bring that tradition back and bring that atmosphere back with those crowds.”

According to Azzarello, baseball in Melrose always seems to draw a crowd.

“That’s one thing I always remember about this city, they always came out to watch the games, it didn’t matter who was playing,” he said. “We obviously got some high-level competition here and we’re very happy to be in the city, and the community accepting us the way they are now.”

One thing the Americans won’t have to deal with is poor field conditions. The newly refurbished Morelli Field will give the team a fresh new look.

“It looks beautiful,” said Burgoyone. “I’ve been out there a couple of times. They use to have the track in the middle of the outfield, with people diving onto asphalt. You’d see ducks swimming around there after a good downpour, but this is a state-of-the-art field and we’re going to love playing there. It’s also great way to attract better players too.”

Dolan has been interested in bringing baseball back to the city since the Rams departure. He formed a committee, which interviewed multiple organizations from several different leagues.

“The Americans were a great fit,” Dolan said. “The reason this group was chosen was because of their professionalism. They have an organization that’s not going to go by the wayside. We’re happy to have them.”

And as history has dictated, this is an organization built for the long haul.

“This franchise has been in the league for about 50 years, so we’re not going anywhere,’ Burgoyne said.

Play ball.

For more information on the Americans and the Intercity League visit intercityleaguebaseball.com